September 18, 2005 - 9:42 PM
My second week of work is behind me, and boy am I glad. I love the work I do with the kids, but I hate the part of things being up in the air and me feeling
uncertain about my next day. My mornings are pretty solid, but the afternoons still have some working out to do. The good thing though is that my transportation
to and from the schools are going without a hitch.
My week started off extra special as I heard from Doyleen, the new Mom of Spud. She not only wrote me with a few questions about Spud, but also said she'd
love to read my journal, which I've already sent her, and was willing to let me mail a toy of spud's I've had put away for him, just in case I might be
able to connect with his new owner. I plan to get my journal put into a book form with some pictures and make 2 copies, one for her and her husband and
one for us. Steve and Doyleen McMurtry live in San Rafael and have 2 grown children. So they are the only 2 humans in the home. Spud does have a new
brother, a Yellow Lab named Anderson; I'm sure they're going to become great buddies. And I feel a great sense of peace knowing Spud finally has a home
again.
Tuesday night was a Rainbow meeting and the girls' assembly initiated 3 new members. Geneva does really good lying at my feett during the meeting and loves
any attention she gets from girls and adults alike before and afterwards .
On Wednesday, Geneva and I had an extra long day. Right after work, instead of coming home, we headed to the ferry to go to Seattle. I had a speaking
engagement at 6:00 for an hour long interview about our upcoming WCB convention for the Evergreen Radio Reading Service. We were catching the 3:00pm but
got down there by 2:25. So I decided to be a little adventuresome and instead of going to the terminal, I instructed Geneva to go left and we just started
walking. I wasn't sure exactly where we were going, but I knew where I wanted to end up -- some place with coffee. Well, we walked along the boardwalk
and then through the courtyard between the hotel and convention center, down the stairs, and there I was on familiar ground. We wandered into Starbucks,
but they do not have but 2 sugarfree flavors to choose from, neither which I care for, so I got directions to Fresche Cup, which turns out to be just across
the street and very easy to get to. With my nonfat, sugarfree French Vanilla Latte in hand, Geneva and I headed back to the terminal. I know we could've
continued along the walk way after we crossed the street, but Geneva took me right back to those stairs we'd come down, and so I decided to reward her
for her very good memory and continue the long way back, through the courtyard and along the boardwalk. It was a sunny day too. We entered the terminal
from the opposite side we needed to be, so had to walk through it. But just before we got to the other door to leave, I heard someone say my name. I
stopped, and my old school friend, John Klooz came up to me. He was heading to Seattle to do some souvenir shopping as he resides in Virginia and was
just hear for our reunion activities. So, I had company on the hour trip and he even walked with me to 3rd where I would catch my bus. I kept telling
him I'd be fine on the Seattle side, but I think he felt better seeing me get to the bus stop safely, and I think it was also good for him to really witness
Geneva and I working together. I had been debating on which boat to catch and had decided to give myself the extra time and take the earlier one. I sure
am glad I did, because it was very special to have this visit with John.
I had never done this route to the Library for the Blind before, so Geneva and I were on an adventure. A friend had given me directions from the bus stop
to the library, and I had a very nice driver on that run who clearly described where I was as I got off the bus. I walked the block-and-a-half without
a hitch. Alan, an employee of the Library and WCB member, who was also hosting the show that night met me in the lobby and we walked a couple of blocks
to a quaint little coffee shop called Motore's Coffee where we each had a grilled sandwich for dinner, and I, yes it was number 2 for the day, had an iced
Latte (sugarfree raspberry).
The hour show seemed to go by very fast, but we were able to get all of the important deatails of the convention in. And I felt good about that.
I called a cab and it was there within 5 minutes and I was at the ferry terminal by 7:20, waiting for my 7:50 departure. It was a long day as I arrived
home around 9:20, leaving the house that morning at 7:00am. Although this was even longer than Lyle's regular day, it wasn't much longer, and reminded
me of what he goes through on a daily basis. I was beat!
On Friday, I came home from work and found a message on my voice mail from my mom who was in Silverdale taking care of some business at the Mall. I called
her back, and she ended up coming over and picking me up to take me on a few errands. We went to Walmart to buy a carpet shampooer (and a few other things),
to Albertsons to do a little grocery shopping and give Amelia a ride home from work, and then to Pet Co for dog food. It was nice getting these errands
done so easily, but even nicer to be able to spend some time with my Mom. She and I use to do a lot of this stuff together, and then, 2 years ago, she
took in my grandma (her mom) and now serves as her main caregiver. Grandma is in a wheelchair and it's just a lot more work for Mom to do the things we
use to do. But I'm very grateful that Grandma has my Mom to care for her and that we get to enjoy Grandma up here, as she was living in southern California.
Then yesterday, September 17, my parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. I'm so proud of them! Lyle and I took them out to dinner at the Red
Lobster, just the 4 of us (with the 2 dogs of course). We had such a nice time, laughing and joking around, and of course eating yummy food. It will
always be a precious memory for me.
Today, we sold our van. We found a couple with a combined family of 4 kids who need it and the husband can work on it and put it back together. We got
$100 to put toward our next vehicle and they drove away with the van. So please continue to pray for us and this need for a suitable and affordable car.
Well I must say it again and again, Geneva never stops amazing me. It doesn't matter where we go, or what the situation is, shee is always at the top of
her job. Whether it's working through the crowd of kids during lunch at the high school or walking along a secluded and unfamiliar path, she guides with
such confidence. It is obvious she's doing what she was born to do. And I'm loving every bit of our time together.
Hugs & wags,
Cindy & Geneva
